Who did you play for and what
GIVE US YOUR RECOLLECTIONS ON THE LOCAL FOOTBALL LEAGUES ACROSS WEARSIDE ... DID YOU TURN OUT FOR
It was the starting point for many a talented footballer. The local football leagues in Wearside saw players battle away bravely on behalf of their team. Whether it was muddy surfaces or bone hard pitches, it didn’t matter, nor that it was often on a Sunday morning. We want your memories of the teams you played for and the highlights of your days as a keen winger, centre back, goalie or demon striker. We’ve turned the clock back to 1997 to look at some of the teams and the players who made the Sunderland Echo local league headlines. They include Railway Tavern, who won the Wearside Myers Heating Combination League Premier Division that year, with a last-game 1-1 draw with Belford House Reserves. Belford scored first through Phil O’Hare before Dean Matthews grabbed the second half Railway reply. Their nearest rivals for the title were Saltgrass, who needed a victory in their own last match, but they too battled to a draw when they took on King Bros. Other teams that year included Aquatic Sports, The Club, Brewery Tap, Grindon News and Video, and Dray & Horses. And there was also Hepworth and Grandage, pictured, whose players included Paul Young, Colin Archbold, David Prest, Paul Robson and Graham Fox. Do you recognise anyone in the photograph? In the Jig Computers Durham Alliance League, Silksworth Oaks were one of the top teams as well as Simonside. Others in the league included Shotton Prince Bishops, Peterlee Hearts of Oak and Morrison Park. Give us your memories of any of these teams. Our second photograph shows the Houghton Cricket Club football team, which played in the Vaux Blue Bell Over-40s league. Perhaps there are faces you recognise. Others contesting that league included Dagmar, Fulwell, Wearmouth, Wheatley Hill, Grey Hen, Hylton Castle, Sunlight Jolly Bowman and Grindon. We would love your memories on all of them. Other leagues at the time included the IBS-Freemans JOC League where Hebburn A clinched the championship in emphatic style with an 11-2 win at third placed Wardley. In the Palmer Cup, Lambton Street stormed into the final with a win over Hebburn A but Wanderers and Cleveland Hall had to reply after drawing 1-1. Who won the